Mustafa Xhepa, the member of the AAFH board of directors, issued the following statement:

Dear Prime Minister Sali Berisha,

On behalf of the Albanian-American Freedom House Organization, I wish to express my sincere condolences to all those affected by the tragedy that shook our nation today, May 21, when a bus full with students went out of control and crashed into a gorge in Himara, killing 14 students and wounding many others.

It is an extremely heartbreaking day for all of us. The AAFH wishes to express its deep sadness. It seems so unjust that such an unthinkable drama affects the most beautiful, innocent and precious gift of life: a student. Our thoughts are with the families and all others who mourn the students. There are no words that can lessen the pain of their loss.